Wisconsin legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Wisconsin AB1070: An Act to repeal 59.692 (1d) and 59.692 (2m); to amend 59.692 (1k) (a) (intro.), 59.692 (1k) (a) 2. (intro.), 59.692 (1k) (a) 2m., 59.692 (1k) (a) 4., 59.692 (1k) (am) (intro.), 59.692 (4) (b), 59.692 (5m), 61.353 (3) (intro.) and 62.233 (3) (intro.); to create 59.692 (1k) (ag) of the statutes; Relating to: the restrictiveness of shoreland zoning ordinances. (FE)
Status: Failed, April 9, 2026
What the bill says
To amend 59.692 (1k) (a) 2(intro.), 59.692 (1k) (a) 2. (intro.), 59.692 (1k) (a) 2m., 59.692 (1k) (a) 4., 59.692 3(1k) (am) (intro.), 59.692 (4) (b), 59.692 (5m), 61.353 (3) (intro.) and 62.233 (3) 4(intro.); to create 59.692 (1k) (ag) of the statutes; relating to: the 5restrictiveness of shoreland zoning ordinances. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill makes various changes to limits on the restrictiveness of shoreland zoning ordinances…
From the introduced text, February 26, 2026:
to amend 59.692 (1k) (a) 2(intro.), 59.692 (1k) (a) 2. (intro.), 59.692 (1k) (a) 2m., 59.692 (1k) (a) 4., 59.692 3(1k) (am) (intro.), 59.692 (4) (b), 59.692 (5m), 61.353 (3) (intro.) and 62.233 (3) 4(intro.); to create 59.692 (1k) (ag) of the statutes; relating to: the 5restrictiveness of shoreland zoning ordinances. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill makes various changes to limits on the restrictiveness of shoreland zoning ordinances. Current law requires a county to enact shoreland zoning ordinances for all shorelands in its unincorporated area and requires those ordinances to meet shoreland zoning standards established by the Department of Natural Resources by rule. Current law generally defines a shoreland to be an area within a specified distance from the edge of a navigable water. This bill eliminates a provision under current law that prohibits a county shoreland zoning ordinance from regulating a matter more restrictively than the matter is regulated by a shoreland zoning standard promulgated by DNR. The bill also eliminates a provision under current law that prohibits a county shoreland zoning ordinance from regulating the construction of a structure on a substandard lot in a manner that is more restrictive than the DNR shoreland zoning standards for substandard lots. Current law provides that a county board of adjustment has authority to decide upon variances and …